A post from the trail. Trail names changed to respect privacy. Plus, I lost my glasses. It’s a good story but no fairytale ending. Only real trail life.
I met TreeLine on the trail. Older guy, by 10 years, but experienced hiker. Another asked that IÂ watch over him for a day. TreeLine has a very deliberate rhythm of effort and rest. We had a great time together. So we repeated it a second day, but I kept a pace more in line with my natural gate.
We developed a communication system.
The photo is of a party favor left over from a priest retirement party. So I took it with me. At a hut one night, I showed my bear whistle to a seasoned trail hiker. I blew it for him. His face got dark and somberly said, “That is the sound of a dying rabbit.”
Never to let facts trouble me, as TreeLine hiked behind me, I would call out with the party favor. If he heard it, he’d grunt back.
On the third day together, the distance became too long. So if another NOBO came past, I would ask if he saw him and how he was doing. If a SOBO came through, I would ask they to relay my encouragement when they meet him.
The best were the day hikers. They could relay in both directions. And with heart. Some even spent time with him, sharing stories and the vista.
TreeLine caught on and started sending messages ahead. Everyone was a good sport. He no doubt enjoyed the Party Line.
Two olden, solo hikers, making community out of thin air.
Well, on the 3rd day, problems. He slipped and fell doing a river crossing. Got to a trailhead, to urgent care, then a flight home.
At the same time (poetic timing), I took a major fall (somersault) down the side of the mountain. On my third visit to urgent care today. I’m not sure if this is a trail ending.
It was amazing the kindness people offer. Eric and Evelyn drove me to urgent care. David, PA, was most helpful.
Each of them, a lot of people, just need a reason and purpose to help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to lend a helping hand. And always remember gratitude.
Tomorrow is Father’s Day and, as you are a spiritual father to so many sons and daughters, I send you holiday greetings and my hope for your ministry at your new assignment and personal happiness for the whole of your life. Perhaps, one day, we’ll meet again.
Your patience and forbearance regarding my Appalachian Trail work (and boyhood dream) has been wonderful, and you should know about the fruits of the work. I’ve shared previously some amazing holy events please allow me to share one last story (without violating confidentiality).
In regards to ministry 2026, Deacon Greg and I started to arrange parolee hiking outings. Because of prior veteran commitments, I had to defer patolees edition to 2027. Then, the veterans backed out due to injury. So I had zero company. But the Lord provides, and I’m helping elderly hikers make their milestones.
Now, the story.
In 2024, I met an engaged couple on the trail. Nice couple, and they shared their hopes and dreams. We are well regulated on Sacramental marriage, so I was unable to honor their request to marry them. Nevertheless, I was able to bless them as engaged couple with full faith.
Hurricane Helen took me off the trail, so I lost touch with them.
2026
As I was hiking, I met an old man by chance, and we had a nice conversation about his married son on the trail. He was very proud. I didn’t make the connection right away.
A hundred miles later at a shelter, who arrives? The same couple, now married, and there was instant recognition. We had a lot to catch up on, so we talked for hours.
As they left the next day, I blessed them as husband and wife, as they are, then blessed his career to come and for her the joys of motherhood and the center of his life now to-be re configured to her queenship in his mansion. And, reminded him that he may not know or internalize, but his father is very proud of him.
So that is the trail for me. Prayers, contemplation, and specific / personal service. What the Lord has planned for the next 200 miles, it’s gonna be awesome.
In our gospel portion today, we are given the insight to be able to say:
The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is indifference.
Consider the Rich Man (Dives) in the Parable of Lazarus and Dives.
Each Day, every day
He dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps.
Knew but Ignored
He knew Lazarus but cared not. Until he would be potentially useful. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Indifference is deadly decay
So indifferent were they, that when Lazarus died, noone buried him.
When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
Indifference blinds
Indifference blinds us to Grace and salvation.
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'”
Kindness endures
Nobody is perfect. You may be having a bad day and aiding others is the furthest thing from your mind. This story is about someone who day-by-day had a life practice of indifference, advantage, resources, intelligence and the nascent capacity to be kind (Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment).
This indifference of one man caused the death of another, Lazarus, and doom for his five brothers.
Nobody can complain they are unable to be kind. Lapses? Sure. A way of life? Never!
Kindness saves
Kindness can be painful. Those who were kind were made ill by the collapse of Joseph.
They shared their home, food, music, eine and oil. This is the contrasting kindness to the vile images of those ‘with’ taken in the Book of the Prophet Amos.
Kindness Praises Kindness
Blessed is he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free.
The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down. The LORD loves the just; the LORD protects strangers.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
Our calling
But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus.
Appalachian Trail
I ended the day yesterday in Holy Mass (of Thanksgiving) for a successful 241 mile hike through Massachusetts and Vermont, end-to-end, entering New Hampshire on Saturday.
Kindness Abounds in Water
The severe drought made water management a critical task. There were days I had to restrict my water intake to two gulps every 70 minutes (set a timer on my phone). Thanks be to God for kindness. Water caches along some routes helped. I even begged a State Forestry Firefighters for a pint when passing each other. In payment I had to promise to stamp out any campsite firepits smoldering that I come across.
Kindness Abounds in Food
The distance between roadcuts made food management difficult. Thanks be to God for kindness.
One day hiker saw me at a forestry parking lot and gave me her snack bar, “you need this more than me”. Still others, while hiking extra miles to town to get food, simply stopped their truck offering a ride to town! I always apologized for my smell. Yes, it was bad. Like damp laundry waiting a week to be washed… times 10.
You see, I was Lazarus. Food, water, shelter, and kindness in small, yet for me, significant amounts… praise the Lord O my soul, as our responsorial psalm goes.
Your Kindness is in the Image and Likeness of God.
